The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler
M.1582
Plan of a panel of pictures for the ISSPG
Date
Plan of a panel of pictures for the ISSPG was drawn in a letter concerning an exhibition at the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (ISSPG), written by Whistler to John Lavery (1856-1941) in April or May 1899.
Plan of a panel of pictures for the ISSPG, Tate Archive, London
The relevant part of the letter reads:
[Pictures labelled:] 'Forbes' Sea piece / Oval / Cowan's shop Nocturne / Phryne Cigale /
My dear Lavery -
In great haste, a line to let you see what I mean - This would make perfect hanging - and be something new.' 1
It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1582).
Images
Plan of a panel of pictures for the ISSPG, Tate Archive, London
Subject
Description
Plan of a panel of pictures for the ISSPG, Tate Archive, London
A sketch of six paintings in a proposed hanging arrangement for an exhibition. Two ovals flank three smaller pictures, with a large horizontal format painting hung with the top sloping forward, above them.
Site
London.
Technique
Composition
Plan of a panel of pictures for the ISSPG, Tate Archive, London
The drawing shows a tentative arrangement of Whistler’s exhibits at the second show of the ISSPG in May 1899. 2 The paintings are Blue and Silver: Trouville y066 (at the top), Rose and Gold: The Little Lady Sophie of Soho y504, Purple and Gold: Phryne the Superb! - Builder of Temples y490 (which was not sent to the exhibition because it remained unfinished), Nocturne: Black and Gold - Rag Shop, Chelsea y204, Rose and Brown: La Cigale y495, and Violet and Rose: Carmen qui rit y506. 3
Conservation History
The letter was started on the bottom half of one side, and completed the other way up, on the verso. There is a rusty paper clip stain on one side.
History
Provenance
- 1899: John Lavery (1856-1941);
- 1941-1972: passed by family descent;
- 1972: given to the Tate Gallery.
Bibliography
Catalogues Raisonnés
- MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 1582) as 'Plan of a panel of pictures for the ISSPG'.
- Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer, and Hamish Miles, The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler, New Haven and London, 1980 (ref., cat. no. 490).
Websites
- Tate Archive at archive.tate.org.
- The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler, 1855-1903, edited by Margaret F. MacDonald, Patricia de Montfort and Nigel Thorp; including The Correspondence of Anna McNeill Whistler, 1855-1880, edited by Georgia Toutziari. Online edition, University of Glasgow. GUW #09988.
Notes:
1: GUW #09988.
2: 2nd Exhibition, Pictures, Drawings, Prints and Sculptures, International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, London, 1899.
3: MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1582) identifies ‘Cowan’s shop Nocture’ as Nocturne: Grey and Gold - Chelsea Snow y174, which was not included in the ISSPG exhibition. In fact Cowan lent Nocturne: Black and Gold - Rag Shop, Chelsea y204, which is the correct ‘shop Nocturne’.